A video shooting and loads movement device applicable in a removable manner to the fork of a fork lift or of a lifter

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a video shooting and load movement device applicable in a removable manner to the surface of a fork lift or of a lifter and including an external strip, a magnetic element arranged in such a way as to allow to apply magnetically the external strip to the fork, and a video-camera.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns the technical field of the machineries suitable for the support and/or lifting of loads, such as forklift trucks.

In particular way, the invention refers to an innovative device, applicable to load lifting or supporting surfaces, preferably the forks of a lifter, capable of detecting images.

BACKGROUND ART

Machineries for lifting and supporting loads, such as fork lifts or transpallets, have long been known.

For example, in the particular case of fork lifts, these are provided with forks that are generally mobile vertically in such a way that they can be lowered and lifted at will. In this way, it is possible to insert the forks under the load to then proceed with the lifting and transport of it to the pre-chosen place. In other cases the forks, apart from being provided with a vertical motion, are also provided with a horizontal motion that allows a reciprocal coming close and moving apart between them, in such a way as to easily grasp the objects, adapting to their different shapes and sizes.

A technical problem that is particularly felt concerns the need to retrieve or put back the goods also from/in shelves that are in altitude, the whole requiring the presence of an operator placed in altitude that guides the movements of the forks for a correct retrieval/positioning.

In that way, it is possible to retrieve/place the load in a precise manner without the risk of damaging it or even of making it fall from the shelf where it is put back.

It is clear that the presence of an operator in altitude implies risks of fall and also the operations of retrieval or positioning certainly result more complex and not much precise.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is therefore much felt in the field the need to have a device that allows to solve said technical inconveniences.

In particular, it is the aim of the present invention to provide a device (1) that results easily and quickly applicable to the forks of a pre-existing lifter or fork lift, allowing to retrieve the load acquiring and visualizing the images relative to the movement in course, therefore avoiding to imply an operator in altitude and allowing precise movements.

These and other aims are therefore reached with the present video shooting and loads movement device (1), applicable in a removable manner to the fork of a fork lift or of a lifter, as per claim 1.

The device comprises:

-   -   An external strip (3);     -   A magnetic element (2) arranged in such a way as to allow to         apply magnetically the external strip (3) to the fork;     -   A video-camera.

In this way, thanks to the video-camera, it is possible to acquire and visualize the images during all the movement, having therefore the certainty of intercepting or re-placing correctly the load.

Advantageously, the device (1) is configured to communicate in wireless modality with an external device (200) for the visualization of the images acquired by the video-camera.

In this way, the images acquired can comfortably be visualized, for example, on a PC, an I-phone or a tablet.

Advantageously, an electronic card (100) is foreseen communicating with the video-camera and, in turn, said electronic card (100) being configured to transmit in wireless modality the images acquired by the video-camera to the external device (200).

Advantageously, the electronic card (200) can be communicating with the video-camera via wire.

Advantageously, a hole (21) can be foreseen in the external strip (3) and in which said video-camera is lodged.

Advantageously, said video-camera can be in the shape of an optical fiber or of a micro video-camera.

Advantageously, the external strip (3) can be covered by a rubber layer.

Advantageously, the magnetic element can be in the shape of a magnetic strip or of one or more discrete magnets.

It is also further described here a loads movement device (1) applicable in a removable manner to the fork of a fork lift or of a lifter and comprising:

-   -   An external strip (3);     -   A magnetic element (2) arranged in such a way as to allow to         apply magnetically the external strip (3) to the fork;     -   At least a light (20) arranged in such a way that the luminous         beam emitted creates a reference on the actual altitude reached         during the movement operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the device, according to the invention, will result clearer with the description that follows of some of its embodiments, made to illustrate but not to limit, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents the various separate main components that, when assembled, constitute the device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an axonometric view wherein the device is highlighted in accordance with said embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a further axonometric view wherein particular attention is made to the superior surface on which the object to lift/move rests;

FIG. 4 is an axonometric view from the bottom wherein the metallic/magnetic layer (or the magnetic plate) has been removed in such a way as to highlight the two load cells that serve to detect the weight;

FIG. 5 is a further axonometric view from the bottom that highlights the device wherein the two load cells have been removed;

FIG. 6 shows the two load cells;

FIG. 7 shows just the magnetic plate with the holes for the fixing of the two load cells.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show the device applied to the fork of a fork lift;

FIG. 10 further shows the overturned device with the magnetic plate removed in order to highlight again the two load cells, the feeding battery and the electronic card 100;

FIG. 11 schematizes the mechanical connection between load cell and superior and magnetic strip;

FIG. 12 schematizes the wireless communication between the electronic card of management of the load cells and an external apparatus 200, such as an electronic processor, a PC, a mobile phone of the I-phone type, a smartphone, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a device 1 is described in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

In particular, FIG. 1 shows the elements that compose it, which are disassembled, while FIG. 2 highlights the device assembled and ready for use.

FIG. 1 shows a first metallic surface 3 worked in the shape of a strip so that it traces the shape of the fork to which the device is destined to be applied.

FIG. 3 shows very clearly, for example, the metallic strip 3 seen from, the side of its superior surface 3′, while FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 both show a view from the side of the inferior surface 3″.

In use, the superior surface 3′ is the one destined to be in contact with the load, while the component 2, described right below, is the one that adheres directly to the fork and allows the removable application of the entire device 1.

Considering the entity of the loads that are generally moved and lifted with such fork lifts (weights sometimes much beyond the 100 kilos), the use of metallic material is preferred for the realization of the strip 3 even if other types of materials (for example, plastic) could be used.

As it is clearly understood from FIG. 1, the inferior surface 3″ is worked in such a way as to lodge some electronic components and the feeding batteries thereof, described right below as well.

In particular, a cutting that traces the shape of a further magnetic strip 2 is foreseen, so that said magnetic strip can apply in correspondence of the surface 3″.

The magnetic strip is also highlighted in FIG. 7 and is obtained from a plastoferrite layer and is further reinforced by a further hardening metallic layer that adheres to the plastoferrite layer. In this way, the magnetic strip 2 acquires enough rigidity.

The fixing of the magnetic strip 2 can take place by means of screws or by gluing, for example.

In a variant, the magnetic strip can be substituted by one or more discrete magnets applied on a hardening metallic plate or directly to the metallic strip 3.

As always shown in FIG. 1, two load cells 4 are applied precisely in correspondence of the inferior surface 3″ inside the cutting.

In particular, inside the cutting, two seats 4′ are obtained in which the load cells are lodged. If the load cells are circular, then the seats are circular.

The seats form receiving receptacles that allow a stable fixing of the load cells and that, above all, represent two references for the fixing.

The load cells are fixed with adhesive glues, rubber inserts or by means of screws.

In particular, as always schematized in FIG. 11, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the load cell 4 connects on one side, by means of screws, inserts or glue, to the surface 3″ of the strip 3, while, contextually, the magnetic component 2 is fixed to the load cells 4 on the opposite side, always by means of screws, inserts or glue.

For example, precisely FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 schematize the shape of the load cells provided with holes that couple with the eyelets 41 obtained in the magnetic strip 2 precisely for the passage of screws or fixing inserts. FIG. 5 instead shows the holes 39 for the fixing of the load cells to the metallic strip 3 through the central hole 38.

In a further variant nothing would impede to connect (for example to glue) the magnetic strip 2 to the surface 3″ and foresee the fixing of the cells 4 just to the surface 3″.

FIG. 4 schematizes very clearly the application of the two load cells 4 in the specific seats 4′ and fixed, as said, by means of a screw or insert (or also glued). To that aim, always in FIG. 4, the underlying magnetic strip, which would close the whole, has been omitted.

It is noted how in the magnetic strip 2 two passing holes are foreseen through which the two load cells face the outside. In that way, in use, the two load cells rest directly on the surface of the fork, allowing to obtain a more precise measure of the weight detected and a minor thickness of the whole device.

It is clear that in a further variant of the invention, the magnetic strip could also not be provided with said holes and, in that case, the two cells would result completely contained within the space comprised between the magnetic strip and the superior metallic strip 3.

It is important that there are at least two load cells distanced between them in such a way that the whole weighing device (in the shape of a strip) can rest in a stable manner on the forks and detect a correct weight.

FIG. 1, just for clarity purposes, shows a pair of load cells assembled in position and a further pair placed aside, just with the aim of visualizing well the shape of the load cells themselves.

The load cells, as it is well known in the state of the art, serve to detect electronically the weight when a load acts on them.

A load cell is therefore an electronic component (transducer) employed to measure a force applied on an object (in general a mechanical component) through the measure of an electric signal that varies due to the deformation that such a force produces on the component.

The deformation of the load cell subject to the weight allows the electronic detection of a weight.

Other weight transducers different from the load cells can be used. For example, some transducers are in the shape of closed pipes in which the pressure of the gas-liquid contained inside varies when the weight applied varies.

Always as shown in FIG. 1, the electric wires 10 are highlighted that transmit the signal detected by the load cells to the electronic card 100 that finds lodging inside the device 1 itself.

FIG. 10 shows the electronic card 100 connected to the load cells and the electric feeding through the batteries 110.

The weight data detected by the load cells are processed by the electronic card 100 appropriately programmed and which manages the wireless transmission to an external reception instrument 200, which can be a smartphone, an I-phone, a dedicated device, a computer, etc. (see to that aim FIG. 12).

In this way, the user can comfortably read the weight data measured from remote.

FIG. 3 shows, in correspondence of the superior surface 3, the presence of three holes (20, 21) in which lights (for example LEDs in the holes 20) and a video camera (for example in the shape of optical fiber or a real micro video camera inserted in the central hole 21, for example) are inserted, respectively.

The micro video camera can therefore be of those of the type installed in PCs or surveillance micro video cameras. They have integrated already all the electronics necessary to acquire the images.

Obviously, the video camera and the lights will have an electric wire that will put them in communication with the electronic card 100. Also in this case the electronic card will manage the wireless transmission of what has been taken by the video camera to the external device 200. The operator can thus visualize comfortably what has been taken by the video camera.

The external reception device 200 can also be further programmed in order to manage more signals contemporarily.

This is the case, for example, in which it is necessary to weigh a very long object, such as a pole. In this case, a fork lift with three or four forks could be necessary. Relative devices 1 can then be arranged, each one of them placed on a fork and each one detecting a part of the total weight. Each device 1, through its own electronic card 100, will send via wireless (without wires) the signal to the external device 200 (for example an I-phone). The I-phone will foresee a specific application in which it is possible to pre-set the overall number of the weighing devices active and so that the I-phone recognizes them and is capable of managing them simultaneously, obtaining the final result of weight and the eventual images received from each one of them.

In use, therefore, the functioning is the following.

As shown in FIG. 8, thanks to the presence of the magnetic strip, the weighing device 1 can be easily applied, in a removable manner, on the metallic forks of the lifter. The magnet creates a magnetic field that makes that the device attaches to the fork in a stable but, at the same time, removable manner.

In this way, it is possible to apply such a device on any lifter (also not arranged per se for the detection of the weight), allowing to detect the weight of the loads lifted.

The metallic strip 3 can have any length but, preferably, covers almost entirely or entirely the length of the fork in such a way as to support well the loads that the fork lifts (see also FIG. 9) and with the load that rests entirely on the device.

The same metallic strip could be covered with an external rubber layer in such a way as to avoid to scratch the load lifted, even if it is not essential; for example, the rubber is not essential in the case in which the load to lift is covered by wood (closed in an external wooden box or a box of another protective material) or material that hardly gets scratched.

In that sense, the device described can be constituted just by the metallic strip and by the underlying magnetic strip.

Once such a device is applied to the forks of the lifter and once the weight has been detected, the same load can eventually be moved in the desired position. To that aim the video camera is used, which allows to see visually in what position the fork itself is found. That can, for example, become necessary when the pallet has to be positioned at high altitudes. The video camera allows to verify exactly the altitude reached by the forks and to allow to make a retrieval/positioning that is precise without the risk of accidental falls of the load or of break-through of the pallet to retrieve.

The integrated lights (also just a LED, for example) are very functional since they do not just improve the quality of the take buy can also substitute the video camera in the manoeuvers of retrieval and positioning. The luminous beam that illuminates in fact creates for the operator a reference on the actual altitude reached during the movement operations.

To that aim, the present invention can present the combination of the video camera with the lights, or just the video camera, or just the lights.

In the current state of the art, in fact, the retrievals/positionings in altitude are difficult and require the aid of an operator that has to go up in altitude together with the fork, risking falls.

It is clear that the device that is the object of the present invention can be applied in use to any mobile lifting surface, not just to the forks of a fork lift or a lifter. Moreover, it is clear that in a comfortable way they can be used also on a fixed surface, for example metallic but also on the ground, on which the object to weigh is placed (for example a car that is positioned on such a device 1 placed on the ground).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the present video camera could be integrated in a device formed just by the metallic strip and by the underlying magnetic strip, without that the device has the load cells and therefore just with the aim of visualizing the operations of retrieval/positioning and not of weighing.

In that case, preferably but not necessarily, the device foresees a covering rubber layer since it is mainly destined to the transport of the load and not to the weighing.

In this way, an easy device applicable magnetically to any type of pre-existing fork would be obtained and whose function is that of guiding the operator in the movements of the loads with the aid of the video camera.

For this variant of the invention, structurally, all what has been described (therefore also the lights) is considered to be comprising and valid except, obviously, for the weight sensors that are not present. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A video shooting and load movement device (1) applicable in a removable manner to a fork of a fork lift or of a lifter and comprising: an external strip (3); a magnetic element (2) arranged to allow applying magnetically the external strip (3) to the fork; and a video-camera.
 2. The device (1), as per claim 1, wherein the device (1) is configured to communicate in wireless modality with an external device (200) that visualizes images acquired by the video-camera.
 3. The device (1), as per claim 1, further comprising an electronic card (100) communicating with the video-camera, said electronic card (100) being configured to transmit in wireless modality images acquired by the video-camera to an external device (200).
 4. The device (1), as per claim 3, wherein the electronic card (100) is communicating with the video-camera via wire.
 5. The device (1), as per claim 1, wherein a hole (21) is defined in the external strip (3), said video-camera being placed in said hole.
 6. The device (1), as per claim 1, wherein said video-camera acquires images via an optical fiber.
 7. The device (1), as per claim 1, wherein said video-camera is a micro video-camera.
 8. The device (1), as per claim 1, wherein the external strip (3) is covered by a rubber layer.
 9. The device (1), as per claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is provides as a magnetic strip.
 10. The device (1), as per claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is provided as one or more discrete magnets.
 11. A load movement device (1) applicable in a removable manner to a fork of a fork lift or of a lifter and comprising: an external strip (3); a magnetic element (2) arranged as to allow applying magnetically the external strip (3) to the fork; and at least a light (20) arranged in such a way that a luminous beam creates a reference on an actual altitude reached during movement operations. 